John Verzi spent six decades taking thousands of photos of celebrities with no intention of publishing them. Now, they're about to be made public.

Elias ChavezJan 12, 2024, 16:13 IST

Brad Pitt and Winona Ryder from John Verzi's collection.Verzi Collection/John Verzi/ Los Angeles Public Library

John Verzi spent six decades amassing 25,000 autographs and over 12,000 photos of celebrities.
After his death in 2018, his collection of photographs sold at auction for over $140,000.

John Verzi spent decades photographing everyone from A-list Hollywood celebrities to lesser-known niche stars.

His private collection is now being prepared for the public to view at the Los Angeles Public Library.

After his death in 2018, Verzi's exclusive photos bounced among collectors and auction houses before it found its permanent home at the central branch of the LAPL in Downtown Los Angeles. The library bid over $140,000 for the collection.

Verzi was born in Santa Clara County, California, and spent much of his adult years in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He was not a paparazzi and was not, by any official accounts, a professional photographer, but he was taken with the world of Hollywood.

While the collection is still being scanned and studied, the LAPL has granted Insider access to some never-before-seen photos from the collection.

John Verzi took photos of celebrities across Los Angeles and even obtained press credentials to attend carpet events.

Bruce Lee attends an entertainment industry event. The date handwritten on the slide is November 26, 1966.John Verzi/ Verzi collection/ Los Angeles Public Library

But not all of Verzi's photos were taken at events.

Elvis Presley sits in the backseat of his car as he leaves a movie studio lot. The date handwritten on the slide is June 7, 1962.John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library.

Some of Verzi's photos feature celebrities at the Hollywood unemployment office — a frequent stop for stars who were in between jobs.

Charles Bronson stops for a photograph in a parking lot, possibly for the Hollywood unemployment office at 6725 Santa Monica Blvd.John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library.

Verzi also had a penchant for finding stars attending dinner parties throughout Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

Lucille Ball arrives at Romanoff's restaurant in Beverly Hills for a dinner honoring director Billy Wilder. The date handwritten on the slide is September 10, 1961.John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library.

Some photos in the Verzi collection offer one-of-a-kind glimpses of celebrities, like Marilyn Monroe going to a dinner party in Los Angeles.

A glimpse of Marilyn Monroe is captured by the photographer as she leaves a dinner party honoring Billy Wilder at the Beverly Hills restaurant Romanoff's. The handwritten date on the slide is September 10, 1961.John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library.

Verzi didn't only focus on movie stars. He collected photographs of musicians, models, Broadway stars, and amateur adult film stars as well.

Jimi Hendrix is photographed in the back seat of a car. The date handwritten on the slide is March 28, 1969.John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public library.

Verzi once photographed 300 celebrities in an 11-month span between 1960 and 1961, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Aretha Franklin attends an industry luncheon. The date handwritten on the slide is March 5, 1973.John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library.

Verzi was known to be reclusive at moments and not easy to get along with.

Judy Garland, in a silk brocade evening coat, following her sold out performance at the Hollywood Bowl. The date handwritten on the slide is September 17, 1961.John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library.

Verzi continued taking photos of a new generation of up-and-coming stars through the 1970s and 1980s.

Harrison Ford is photographed, possibly while working as a carpenter. The date handwritten on the slide is August 24, 1975.John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library

Verzi's collection of a lifetime of photographs sold for $144,000 to the LAPL.

Brad Pitt attends an evening event. February, 1988John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library

Now that the collection is being digitized, librarians at the LAPL hope that the images can be useful to the public.

Winona Ryder attends the premiere of "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" in Century City. August 3, 1989.John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library

The Verzi collection displays a different view of celebrities and stars in Hollywood in the 60s.

Sharon Tate attends an evening event. The date handwritten on the slide is March 30, 1967.John Verzi/ Verzi Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library.

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